Skogen Kitchen

“Best meal of our road trip across South Dakota and Wyoming. We reserved in advance and scored seats at the counter overlooking the kitchen. The flavor combinations here are incredibly creative; between the two of us, we split the kampachi crudo, bone marrow, and the filet—and every single dish was fantastic. From the seamless meal pacing and attentive service to the exceptional food quality, everything was top-notch. This place is a real treat and absolutely worth traveling for.”

“After years of hearing about Skogen, we finally made the trip — and somehow it still exceeded every expectation. From the moment we sat down, Travis made the entire evening unforgettable. He was knowledgeable, warm, intuitive, and somehow picked up on little details from our conversations that made the experience feel incredibly personalized and thoughtful without ever feeling forced. That kind of service is rare. The food was genuinely phenomenal. The halibut with mint emulsion, lemon brown butter, roasted fingerling potatoes, and asparagus was one of the best dishes we’ve had in a long time — I would bottle and drink that mint emulsion if I could. We also did the May Chef’s Menu, which started with an incredible sea bass crudo and led into what can only be described as a religious experience: the New Zealand rack of lamb with harissa yogurt sauce. Slap-the-table, look-at-each-other-in-silence kind of good. We genuinely considered ordering a second rack before curiosity got the better of us and we tried the filet mignon…which absolutely held its own and was more than worth it. To finish, we had the yuzu sorbet over white chocolate tart — bright, balanced, and refreshing — and then the staff surprised us with a generous serving of their house mango ice cream that somehow managed to be the perfect ending to the night. We will absolutely be back to Custer, if not solely to return to this diamond we’d been hearing whispers about for years. We finally saw the light — and it was delicious.”

“Best place in the black hills for dinner, hands down. My wife and I drive an hour for just about every special occasion we have to Skogen. Owners are some of the friendliest people you'll meet. James (chef and owner) is a semi finalist for the 2025 James Beard best chef in the Midwest. Can't say enough good things about Skogen.”

“Walked in with high expectations. Exceeded. The service, from the moment we walked in until we walked out was extraordinary. The food was even better. Connecting consistently with Joseph, the owner/chef, was an extra special touch. Thank you for that!”

“We celebrated our 5th anniversary at Skogen. The menu was beautifully curated and the food was delicious! The staff was welcoming and helpful, even bringing our 2 year old a puzzle toy to keep her occupied. It was fun seeing into the kitchen. The only thing that was lacking was the level of service just didn't match the rest of the experience. It was also a very long wait between appetizers and mains, and we never had our water refilled.”